Collar breaker



April 21, 1936. SPENCER 2,037,938

COLLAR BREAKER Filed Oct. 10, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1v VEN TOR L.SPENCER COLLAR BREAKER pril 21, 1936.

Filed Oct. 10, 19

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'llllllllll April 21, 1936. L. SPENCER 2,037,933

COLLAR BREAKER Filed Oct. 10, 1934 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ..II 6 I -i;

50 gg f 44 ya [NVENTOR 47 O qgmw operated electrically and thoughcarrying Patented Apr. 21,. 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLARBREAKER.

Application October 10, 1934, Serial No. 747,803

21 Claims.

My invention relates to collar breakers and the objects of my inventionare:

First, to provide a collar breaker which is particularly adapted foroperation within well tubing or casing while suspended therein by acable;

Second, to provide a collar breaker of this class which fires severalprojectiles through the collar simultaneously and in a manner to causethe collar to split axially so that the adjoining tubing or casing maybe readily separated;

Third, to provide a collar breaker which incorporates a novel means andmethod of locating the collars or joints in the tubing or casing so thatthe projectiles may penetrate the collar at the desired points;

Fourth, to provide a collar breaker which is an explosive is entirelysafe to handle;

Fifth, to provide a collar breaker which will not hang up in the tubingor casing, the collar locating fingers being so positioned that thecollar breaker may be raised or lowered even though the locating fingersfail to assume a collapsed posiion;

Sixth, to provide a tool of this class which readily lends itself tostreamlining so that it readily passes through the tubing or casing eventhough the same is filled with liquid or oil well mud; and

Seventh, to provide on the whole a novelly constructed collar breakerwhich is durable and efficient in its action.

With the above and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear,reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of my collar breaker in its one formwith the supporting cable -shownfragmentarily; Figure 2 is'an enlargedfragmentary partial sectional, partial elevational view thereof takenthrough 22 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through33 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is another transverse sectional view through4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is another transverse sectional view through5-5 of Figure 2; and Figure 6 is a diagrammatical view of the electricalelements of my collar breaker;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, partial sectional, partial elevational viewsimilar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified form of my collar breaker;Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view thereof through 8-8 of Figure 7;and Figure 9 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the electricalelements of my modified collar breaker;

Figure 10 is an elevational view of a'further modification of my collarbreaker showing diagrammatically its association with cable length andtension measuring devices; Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional viewthereof taken through HH of Figure 10 with parts and portions in 5elevation; Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view through l2-l2 ofFigure 11, and Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view through l3-I3 ofFigure 11.

Attention is first directed to Figures 1 to 6. 19 The structure hereillustrated comprises a body member I, which carries an explosivecartridge and projectiles as well as collar locating fingers to bedescribed hereinafter; a shell 2 connected to the upper end of thebody'member; and a cable 5 head So attached to the upper end of theshell 2.

A supporting and conducting cable 3 is fastened to the head and isconnected to suitable apparatus, not shown, for raising and lowering thetool as well as supplying electrical energy thereto. 20

The lower end of the body member is tapered to form a blunt point. Thelower end of the body member is provided with a socket la, the innerportion of which receives a cartridge 4. Said cartridge is slightlytapered towards its inner end and is formed of relatively heavy gaugemetal. The inner end, 4a, is in the form of a plug and is insulated fromthe remainder of the cartridge. The plug is connected with the oppositeor grounded end of the cartridge by a fusible wire 41).

Three lateral and parallel disposed bores lb intersect the socket Ia andare adapted to receive projectiles 5. The ends of the bores are coveredwith suitable sealing disks 6. l

The outer portion of the socket la receives a plug 1 designed towithstand the explosive force of the cartridge. Said plug forms acontinuation of the tapered lower end of the body member.

The upper end of the body member is provided with a large axiallydirected recess Ic at the base 40 of which is a smaller screwthreadedrecess. The walls of the recess lc form a sleeve fit with the lowerportion of the shell 2, while the screwthreaded recess receives thescrewthreaded extremity of a solenoid pole piece to be describedhereinafter.

The body member is provided with three axially directed channels lddisposed so as to clear the bores I b. The upper end of each channel Idintersects the recess lc at its lower portion and extends downwardlyuntil it merges into the tapered lower end of the body member. Eachchannel is traversed by a pin 8 near its upper end which journals acollar locating member 9 intermediate its ends. The lower arm 9a of eachmember 9 is relatively long and is provided with a rounded boss or lug9b near its lower end which is adapted to engage the walls of the tubingor casing and enter the spaces between adjacent sections joined bycollars. Below the lug So each member finger turns inwardly andmaintains a position in the corresponding channel Id throughout themovement of the collar locating member.

The other arm of each collar locating member extends upwardly andterminates in an inturned arcuate armature 9d which is adapted to coactwith a solenoid and pole members to be described hereinafter.

The shell 2 is made of non-magnetic material and is substantiallyuniform in section except for a reduced lower end 2a which fits snuglywithin the upper portion of the recess lc as shown in Figure 2. Thelower portion of the shell 2 contains a solenoid ID. The solenoid isprovided with an inner'pole piece ll extending therethrough inconcentric relation with the shell 2 and body I and protruding below theshell 2. The inner pole piece is screwthreaded at its extremity forconnection with the screwthreaded socket at the bottom of the recess lc.Above its screwthreaded extremity, the pole piece II is provided with aflange or annular rib Ha having a beveled or frusto conical uppersurface. Above the flange Ha, the pole piece is provided with a. sleevel2 of non-magnetic material.

An outer pole piece It is fitted within the shell 2 around the solenoidl0 and below the solenoid is constricted as indicated by I30. inconformity with the reduced lower end of the shell, and terminates in adownwardly and inwardly beveled end i3b spaced upwardly from the flangelid to form therewith an annular, substantially v-shaped channel, thebase of which is defined by the lower extremity of the sleeve l2. Thereduced lower end 2a of the shell, constricted portion I30. of the outerpole piece, sleeve [2 and corresponding portion of the inner pole pieceare welded or otherwise secured together to form an integral stronglower end for the shell 2.

The armatures 9d of the several collar locaters are attracted into thechannel formed between the rib Ila and end lib of the inner and outerpole pieces when the solenoid is energized. Below the rib i la the innerpole piece is surrounded by a band from which extend leaf springs II,the extremities of which bear against the upwardly directed arms of theseveral collar locaters to urge them outwardly and thereby urge thelower arms inwardly and clear of the walls of the tubing or casing inwhich the collar breaker is inserted.

The body member I is provided with a small bore communicating betweenthe cartridge chamber and the screw-threaded recess. Said bore alineswith a small bore through the inner pole piece H. A small insulatedconductor fits l5 within the bores and engages the plug la of thecartridge.

Above the solenoid the shell 2 is provided with a bridge disk Itconnecting the pole pieces and above said disk space is provided forreceiving a remotely controlled switch or analogous device designated I1and shown diagrammatically in Figure 6. Said switch includes contactslla. in series with the cartridge 4 and a solenoid Hb in parallel withthe solenoid It. An armature coacts with the solenoid "b and. operatesan overcenter link and lever arrangement "c to close the contacts Ilawhen the current through the solenoid exceeds a predetermined value. Aspring lld normally holds the over-center arrangement free of thecontacts.

Current is supplied through the cable which may carry a singleconductor, the other side of the circuit being grounded. The cable isconnected to a source of direct current preferably through a variableresistance IS. A milli-ammeter II is suitably positioned in the circuit.

Operation of the structure illustrated in Figures 1 to B inclusive is asfollows:

The device is lowered in the tubing or casing A until slightly below thedesired level. Thereupon the solenoid i0 is energized, causing thecollar locaters to bear against the casing. The device is then raiseduntil the collar locaters enter a channel 13 formed between adjacentsections of tubing. When the locators snap into the channel B, theresulting sudden movement of the armatures 9d is registerable on amilli-ammeter I 8. Or a suitable weight indicator may be associated withthe cable as described hereinafter in conjunction with a modified formof my collar breaker, and the collar located by the increased load onthe cable. Upon locating the collar, the current to the solenoid I0 israised momentarily until the switch l6 completes the circuit through thecartridge and fires the projectiles. The localized pressure exertedagainst the collar along its axis, preferably at its connection with oneonly of the connected sections of casing, splits the collarlongitudinally so that the upper section can be pulled from the lower.

The collar locating members are adapted to be inserted through therecess ie before connecting the shell 2 and body I. Several sizes ofcollar locating members may be used with the same size of body andshell, but it is desirable to use as large a body member as possible.

Attention is now directed to Figures 7, 8, and 9. The structure hereillustrated difiers in its operation over the first described structurein that the collarlocating members normally occupy an extended positionby spring action and the electrical means is used only to indicate whenthe locating members enter the space between adjacent sections oftubing.

The body member, designated 2| of the present structure, is providedwith the cartridge socket and projectile and bores as in the firstdescribed structure. The upper end of the body member is constricted andis provided with a recess 2Ia which receives a. correspondingly shapedreduced end 22a. of a shell member 22. Above its reduced end 220 theshell member is provided with a stepped shoulder fiush with theconstricted end of the body member and the two members are here weldedtogether.

The body member 2| is provided with three longitudinally extendingchannels 21b which continue part way along the shell 22 as indicated by22b. The shell 22 is circular internally except for a region near itslower end which is generally triangular in cross-section with the flatsides corresponding to and opposite the continuations 22b of the threechannels 2"). Each fiat side is apertured opposite the correspondingchannel and receives a small cup member 23 which is welded by its rim tothe outer margin of the aperture to define a sealed recess or socket inthe upper end of each channel 22b. Each cup member protrudes into theshell 22 and forms a spool for receiving a relatively fiat solenoid coil24 and is formed of non-magnetic material except for its inner end. Atriangular retainer member 25 fits loosely within the shell 22 to retainthe several solenoid coils in position. The'retainer member and shellare formed of permeable magnetic material.

Each channel 2 lb is provided near its upper end with a pin 26 whichjournals a collar locating member 21. Each collar locating membercomprises a longer depending arm 21a at the lower portion of which is alug or shoe 21b. The upper or shorter arm, designated 21a of each collar10- cating member, extends into the continuation channels 22b and isequipped with a laterally directed armature 21d adapted to fit within acorresponding cup member 23 when the shoe 21b is extended. Springs 28set in socket 2 ie formed in the body member 2| urge the shoesoutwardly.

As in the first described structure, an insulated conductor 29 extendsfrom the cartridge into the shell 22.

The shell 22 is connected with the cable head 3a and cable 3 as in thefirst described structure. The cable in this instance, however, isconnected with its source of direct current through a polarity reversingswitch 30. Within the shell 22 there is mounted a suitable polarizedrelay 3| or similar device which is arranged to connect the threesolenoid coils 24 with the direct current supply when one side isgrounded and to connect the cartridge therewith when the other side isgrounded.

Operation of the structure disclosed in Figures 7, 8, and 9 is asfollows: I

The collar breaker is run in the tubing or casing with the fingersriding on the walls thereof and engaging the collars as they pass,sufficient weight being provided to overcome the action of the springs28. When approximately the desired depth is reached, the collar breakeris either raised or lowered while the solenoid coils 24 are energizeduntil a collar is encountered, which fact will be indicated on themilli-ammeter 32. The collar breaker may be caused to pass several timesover the collar to ascertain whether or not the collar is located. Whenthe desired collar is located, the polarity of the circuit is reversed,causing the ignition of the explosive charge. A suitable weightindicator on the cable is quite helpful when used in conjunction withthe ammeter.

Attention is now directed to Figures 10 to 13 inclusive. This structureutilizes a weight indicator in place of the milli-ammeter and associatedelectrical apparatus for determining the location of a collar. The bodymember, designated 4|, is provided with a deep socket extending thereinfrom its upper end, the innermost portion of which is slightly taperedto receive a cartridge 42. This cartridge is similar to the cartridge 4except that the insulated plug 42a is at the larger end and the fusiblewire 42b is grounded at the smaller end. One or more bores 4|a extendlateral from the cartridge and are disposed in vertical alinement. Thebores are sealed at their extremities by disks 8 and are supplied withprojectiles 5.

The body member 4| is provided with three longitudinally extendingchannels 4|b at the upper ends of which are mounted pins 43 whichjournal depending collar locating members 44. Each collar locatingmember is provided near its lower end with a collar locating roller 44awhich rides against the walls of the tubing or casing and at itsextremity, which is inturned, with a second or cam roller 45.

The bottom end of the body member 4| is provided with a recess 4|c.fromthe center of which depends a stem 4|d. A cam sleeve 46 is slidablymounted on said stem. Said cam sleeve is provided with an upwardlyconverging trusto-conical cam portion 48a which engages the rollers 45.Below the cam sleeve 46 the stem 11 carries a cup-shaped nose piece 41which complements the body member to provide a bullet shaped lower endtherefor. A spring 48 fits between the nose piece 41 and cam sleeve 46to urge the cam sleeve upwardly and thereby shift the several collarlocating members outwardly.

The outer portion of the socket provided in the upper end of the bodymember 4| is provided with a buttress thread and receives acorrespondingly threaded lower end of a plug member 49, designed towithstand the force of combustion within the cartridge 42. The upperportion of the plug member 49 is screwthreaded to receive the lower endof a weight tube 50. The plug member is provided with a small boretherethrough which receives a snugv fitting insulated conductor 5| whichcontacts the cartridge 42. The weight tube 5|] is suitably connectedwith the cable head 3a and cable 3 and the conductor is joined to theconductor portion of the cable.

The cable is suitably wound on a drum and connected with a source ofelectrical energy, not shown. First, however, the cable passes over ameasuring sheave 52 embodying a suitable measuring device. Said sheaveis supported by a suitable weight indicating device 53. For simplicity.these devices are shown as being readable directly, but actually theyare equipped with Selsyn motors or the like to permit reading from aremote point such as at the cable drum.

Operation of the structure shown in Figures 11 to 13 is as follows: Thecollar breaker is run into the tubing or casing until the desired depthis reached, whereupon the cable is slowly raised or lowered as desireduntil the weight indicator indicates an increased or decreased load asthe case may be. When the collar is located, the cartridge is fired.

It should be understood that while I have shown the weight and lengthmeasuring devices in conjunction with the last described structure,these devices aid materially in the operation of the. first describedstructures and in actual .practice are so used.

In each of the structures illustrated, the cartridge shells are designedto act as delayed firing means so as to build up an initial pressurebefore rupturing.

Though I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, Ido not wish to be limited to such embodiments but desire to .include inthe scope of my invention the struc tures covered by the followingclaims:

I claim:

l. A collar breaker for tubing or the like which is connected bycollars, the connecting portions of which define internal channels,comprising: a plurality of yieldable fingers adapted to ride in eitherdirection along the interior of the tubing and into and acrossconnecting portions of said collars; means for indicating engagement ofsaid yieldable fingers with said collars; and a retrievable explosiveactuated means forsplitting a collar engaged by said fingers.

2. A collar breaker for tubing or the like which is connected bycollars, the connecting portions of which define internal channels,comprising: a plurality of depending fingers yieldably engageable withthe interior of the tubing and arranged to ride in either direction intoand across the connecting portions of said collars; means for indicatingengagement 01' said fingers with said collars; and a retrievableexplosive actuated means for splitting a collar engaged by said fingers.

3. A collar breaker for tubing or the like which is connected bycollars, the connecting portions of which define internal channels,.comprising: a gun unit arranged to fire a projectile through asurrounding collar; a plurality oi pivotally mounted fingers mountedabove said gun unit and depending along the sides thereof, and shaped tofit within but ride in either direction past said channels, said gununit adapted to cocupy a position for splitting a collar when saidfingers fit in the corresponding channel; and means for detecting entryof said fingers into said channels.

4. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within awell bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spacedrelation with each other by collars; a body structure; a cable forlowering and raising the body structure within said tubing; yieldablecollar engaging elements carried by said body structure, adapted to belowered or raised past any of said collars; means disposed exteriorly ofthe well bore and associated with said elements through said cable forindicating the location of a collar engaged by said elements; and a gununit associated with said body structure and disposed so as to direct acollar splitting projectile against a collar and between said elements.

5. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within awell bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spacedrelation with each other by collars; a retrievable gun unit arranged todirect against a surrounding collar an explosive charge calculated tosplit the same; a collar locating means for said gun unit comprising aplurality oi collar engaging elements disposed to engage yieldingly acollar surrounding said gun unit and arranged to make readily separableconnections 'therewith, and indicating means exteriorly of the well boreresponsive to such engagement.

6. In a collar breaker; a device insertable in a well casing or tubingto engage internally a collarconnected joint; electrically responsivemeans for indicating such engagement; and an electrically operable gununit positioned to discharge a projectile through the collar of a jointengaged by said device.

7. In a collar breaker; a device insertable in a well casing or tubingto engage internally a collar connected joint; electrically responsivemeans for indicating such engagement; an electrically operable gun unitpositioned to discharge a projectile through the collar oi. a jointengaged by said device; a common supply for said indicating means andsaid gun unit; and control means for operating said indicating meansindependently of said gun unit.

8. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within awell bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spacedrelation with each other by collars; an electrically responsive collarlocating means; and an electrically operated gun unit arranged to fire acollar splitting charge through a collar located by said means.

9. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within awell bore wherein the tr'sing sections are joined in slightly spacedrelation with each other by collars; an electrically responsive collarlocating means; an electrically operated gun unit arranged to fire acollar splitting charge through a collar located by said means; acontrol mechanism adapted to be connected with said collar locatingmeans and said gun unit; and a unitary supply circuit leading to saidcontrol mechanism, said control mechanism arranged to permit operationof said collar locating means independently 01 said gun unit.

10. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within awell bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spacedrelation with each other by collars; a gun unit arranged to directagainst a surrounding collar an explosive charge calculated to split thesame; and a collar locating means for said gun unit comprising aplurality of collar engaging elements arranged to move into the spacebetween adjacent sections of tubing connected by a collar surroundingsaid gun unit, and electrical means for indicating such movement.

11. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within awell bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spacedrelation with each other by collars; the combination with a gun unitarranged to direct against a surrounding collar an explosive chargecalculated to split thesame; of a collar locating means comprising, aplurality of yieldable fingers arranged to ride along the walls of saidtubing and enter the joints therebetween; and electrically operatedmeans associated with said fingers to detect movement of said fingersinto said joints, said fingers being positioned to engage a jointconnected by a collar surrounding said gun unit.

12. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within awell bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spacedrelation with each other by collars; the combination with a gun unitarranged to direct against a surrounding collar an explosive chargecalculated to split the same; of a collar locating means comprising, aplurality of fingers, means normally withholding said fingers fromcontact with the tubing, and magnetically operated means for yieldablyurging said fingers against the walls of the tubing and into the jointstherebetween; said fingers being positioned to engage a joint connectedby a collar surrounding said gun unit.

13. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within awell bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spacedrelation with each other by collars; the combination with a gun unitarranged to direct against a surrounding collar an explosive chargecalculated to 4 split the same; of a collar locating means comprising, aplurality of fingers, means normally withholding said fingers fromcontact with the tubing, and magnetically operated means for yieldablyurging said fingers against the walls of the tubing and into the jointstherebetween, said fingers being positioned to engage a joint connectedby a collar surrounding said gun unit; and an indicating deviceassociated with said magnetically operated means for indicatingengagement of said fingers with a joint.

14. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned within awell bore wherein the tubing sections are joined in slightly spacedrelation with each other by collars; a body structure; a cable forlowering and raising the body structure within said tubing; a pluralityof yieldable fingers carried by said body structure and engageable withthe walls of the tubing and the joints therebetween; and electricallyoperated means associated with said fingers to detect movement of saidfingers into said joints; and a gun unit associated with said bodystructure and disposed so as-to direct a collar splitting projectilethrough a collar embracing the joint located by said fingers.

15. In a collar breaker for well tubing or the like positioned withintubing sections are joined in slightly spaced relation with each otherby collars; a body structure; a cable for lowering and raising the bodystructure within said tubing; a plurality of yieldable fingers carriedby said body structure and engageable with the walls of the tubing andthe joints therebetween; means normally withholding said fingers fromcontact with the tubing; and magnetically operated means for yieldablyurging said fingers against the walls of the tubing and into the jointstherebetween.

16. In a collar breaker for well tubing or casing; a body structureincluding a gun unit arranged to drive projectiles through a surroundingcollar to split the same; a cable for raising and lowering said bodystructure within a string of tubing or casing; a plurality of yieldablefingers arranged to engage the walls of the tubing and enter the jointsbetween adjacent sections; and means for measuring the variation intension on said cable as said fingers pass said joints.

17. In a collar locating means; a plurality of yieldable fingersarranged to ride along the walls of a tubing string and engageinternally joints between sections of said tubing string; andmagnetically operated means associated with said fingers to detectmovement thereof into said joints.

18. In a collar locating means; a plurality of yieldable fingersarranged to ride along the walls of a tubing string and engageinternally joints between sections of said tubing string; means norawell bore wherein the mally withholding said fingers from contact withthe tubing walls; and magnetically operated means for yieldably urgingsaid fingers against the walls of the tubing and into the jointstherebetween.

19. In a collar locating means; a plurality of yieldable fingersarranged to ride along the walls of a tubing string andengage internallyjoints between sections of said tubing string; means normallywithholding said fingers from contact with the tubing walls;magnetically operated means for yieldably urging. said fingers againstthe walls of the tubing and into the joints therebetween; and a devicefor indicating movement of said fingers into said joints in response tosaid magnetically operated means.

20. In a retrievable collar breaker for well tubing or the like whereina variation in the diameter of the tubing occurs at the joints thereof;a joint locating means including circumferentially spaced fingerelements adapted to ride along the interior of the tubing; and aretrievable gun unit mounted within the area defined by said fingerelements and having a laterally directed barrel adapted to fire a jointsplitting projectile between said finger. elements and through the jointlocated thereby.

21. In a tool for breaking in situ well tubing wherein a variation indiameter of the tubing occurs at the joints thereof; the combinationwith a retrievable gun unit arranged-to direct against a surroundingjoint an explosive charge calculated to split the same; of a collarlocating means comprising a plurality of fingers engageable with thewalls of the tubing opposite said gun unit; and magnetically operatedmeans for indicating movement of said fingers past a joint in saidtubing.

. LLOYD SPENCER.

